Animal trap



E. E. SHOLIN sept. 17, 1929.

ANIMAL TRAP Filed March 29. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Swanton EL' ZmZzJn,

Patented Sept. 17, 1929 EDWIN n. sHoLIN,

or nLKo, NEVADA ANIMAL TRAP Application mea March 29, 192s. serial N6. 265,696.y

The invention relates to animal traps and has particular reference to traps used for catching smaller game animals suoli for instance as im'iskrats. i

The invention `.has for its principal object the provision of a trap that is reasonable in cost of manufacture, effective in operation, and that is constructed of hingedly engaged sections to enable collapsing the trap into a small compass for transportation and storage. v f

The invention will be describedin detail hereinafter and will be found illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 'in which Figure l is a side ViewA in elevation of the improved trap,

Figure 2 :is a front view in elevation,

Figure 8 is a rear view in elevation,

Figure 4t is a longitudinal sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 4 4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a `horizontal sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure l,

Figure 6 is transverse sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure l., and

Figure 7 is a detail of the hook frame for supporting the entrance way tothe trap.

ln the drawings similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The improved animal trap is adapted to be folded when not in use for transportation and storage and is furthermore adapted to be quickly set up for use and comprises sections made up of frames constructed prefcrably of metal rods or heavy wire and cov ered with a woven wire fabric, this construction insuring cheapness of cost in makina' the trap- In the drawings the bottom section is designated l, the side sections are designated 2, and the frames of the bottom section 1 and the side sections 2, designated 2|.a and 2, respectively, are hingedly secured together by means of metal rings 3 to permit folding movement ofthe sections relatively to one another. The top wall of the trap designated 4t has its frame it@ pvotally engaged with one of the side walls 2 by means of metal ringsf', while the other edge of the `frame ta is releasably securable to the upper side of the frame 2a in the opposite side section 2 by means of a `p-ivoted latch member 6 thatr is 'preferably' formed of a suitable gage of wire having one end formed with an open eye .7 ytofreceive the frame 4 and provided with an outwardly curved portion 8 in the form substantially of a half circle and the free end ,of the wire i latch 12 similar inconstruction 'to they latch 6 heretoforedescribed to engage the frame la to hold' the rear wall4 l0 in a closed position relatively to the other wallto form a cage for the animalsto be entrapped by the instrumentalities .to be hereinafter de"` scribed, and the rear wall 10 provides a door through which the entrapped animals may be removed. ,n f'

Thefend of the trap opposite to the yend on whichthe wall l0 ris pivoted, forming the front end, is open tol provide an entrance for the animal,` andpivotally engaging the front of theframe l atsaid end of the trap, the frame having side members 13 pro-` vided.l with loops 14 pivotally engagingjsaid end of the frame la; said side membersbeing inclined toward one another vinwardly of the trap and connected by a crossy member 15. Said runway frame is covered for a part of the distance inwardly of thetrap by means ofawire fabric 16, the remainder of the frame being uncovered to form an opening into the trap whenthe frame is in set position.' As shown,` the runway vframe is heldin an upwardly inclined osition by means of a yframe 17y made of .ouble bars of heavywre and provdedwth leye loops 18 that`p1votal1y engage bar 19 .secured transversely ef timeframe' 42? the Eres ena of said frame being bent back on itself to form a hook member 20 that engages the cross piece 15 to hold the runway frame in its upwardly inclined position. The frame 17 is covered with wire screen fabric 21 that forms a barrier at 'the upper end of the runway. 22 indicates a plate having loops 23 that pivotally engage the cross rod 24e` supported on the side members 13, said plate having one of its ends covering the opening 16l in the runway frame while its other end is normally in engagement with the screen fabric 16,.,and said plate 22 is adapted to be tilted by the weight of the animal Aand over the opening 16a to precipitate the animal into the cage of the trap. A lure'or vbait of suitable character may be arranged in the trap,y preferably on the screen fabric 21 of the frame 17. Ateach side of the runway frame is providedv a partition 25 consisting` of a frame 2G that pivotally engages the frame 2L by means of rings 27 and is shaped to close the side of the runway and secured to the side members 13 thereof by means of open rings or other suitable detachable fastenings 2S to permit detachment of the frame 26 from the runway frame when it is desired to collapse the trap fortransportat-ion or storage.

When the trap is in the position shown in vthe drawings and the animal 4that is attracted by theV bait or other lure ascends the plate 22 supported by the runway frame;

- reaches the upper end of the plate, his

weight will overcome the weight kof the longer end of thek plate supported by the screen fabric 16 and will be precipitated into the trap. VVhenthe weight of the animal is released fromrtheupper end ofthe plate the heavier end will return the plate to its normal position and the trap will be ready to catch another animal.

rlhe detachable and hinged features of the trap clearly make vit possible to fold the trap into a small compass for transportation and storage, the partitions 25 being disconnected from the runwayY frame members 13 permit these partition members to fold back against the sides 2, while releasing the run! way frameV number 15 from the hook 20 will permit -the runway frame to fold downwardly ontothe bottom 1. Then by releasingthe latches 8 from engagement with the frame 2Tand the latches 12 from engagement with the frame 1fL the top and sides and ends may be vfolded into a compact position.

-VVhat is claimed is y An animaltrap, comprising a collapsible cage consisting of 'foldable sections includ-A ing a bottom, side walls'hingedly engaging the bottom, ya top wall hingedlyengaging one of said side walls and provided with 'latch means'engaging the'other-fside wall,v

a rear wall hingedly engaging the top wall and lprovided with latch means engaging one end of the bottom, a runway forming the entrance to the trap and pivot-ally engaging at one of its ends the other end of the bottom, hooked panel frame supported on the top wall and engaging the other end of said runway, said runway having an opening in the end engaged by the hooked frame, a tilting plate pivotally secured intermediate of its ends to said runway and adapted to close said opening, said runway being tapered inwardly of the cage, and partitions pivotally engaging the side walls and secured to the side edges of said runway. f

'In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDVIN E. SJOLN.

llO 

